AN historic church building dating back almost 180 years is to be razed to the ground amid claims it was being demolished just to keep squatters out.

AN historic church building dating back almost 180 years is to be razed to the ground amid claims it was being demolished just to keep squatters out.

Campaigners today pledged to lie down in front of the bulldozers in a bid to save the former Centre 13 community centre, in School Road, Moseley.

They accused clergy at nearby St Mary's Church of using a "sledgehammer to crack a nut" and said a caretaker should be taken on to protect the site instead.

But church officials insisted the building, built in 1828, was not worth restoring.

"This is architectural vandalism and completely over the top," said Coun Martin Mullaney (Lib Dem, Moseley and Kings Heath).

"I'm prepared to lie down in front of the bulldozers to stop it. I spoke to the church and they were adamant they couldn't find a community use for it. They blamed me for trying to protect the building by getting it locally listed. But that is a complete red herring."

The centre closed last July and the building was invaded by squatters claiming to be artists in March. They promised to stage environmental workshops community events but were kicked out last month amid claims of wild all night parties.

Now the site, built as Moseley National School to teach the children of farm workers, is understood to have been earmarked for housing.

St Mary's vicar, Rev Averyl Bradbrook, said the age of the building meant it was no longer suitable for community use and all the groups which used Centre 13 had been relocated.